Punching bag assembly with stiffness adjustment arrangement

ABSTRACT

The resilient assembly has an innermost inflatable enclosure, a reinforced fiber layer around the inflatable enclosure, first and second mounting members on top and bottom points of the inflatable enclosure, each mounting member having a threaded shank, a leather layer around the reinforced fiber layer and the first and second mounting members, a first cap having a central through hole, and a second cap having a central through hole so that the threaded shanks are driven through the through holes to releasably secure to the pedestal and the punching bag respectively.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The invention relates to punching bags and more particularly to a punching bag assembly having a stiffness adjustment arrangement so as to fit different individuals with different training needs.

2. Description of Related Art

Boxing is a popular sport throughout the world. A conventional punching bag assembly is shown in FIG. 5 and comprises a stepped circular pedestal 41, a resilient member (e.g., coil spring or rubber member) 40 mounted on a top center of the pedestal 41, and a cylindrical punching bag 42 formed of foam or the like.

However, the typical resilient member 40, either coil spring or rubber member, has a constant elasticity, i.e., being not adapted to adjust its stiffness to fit different individuals with different training needs.

Thus, the need remains for a punching bag assembly that is superior in function to prior punching bag assemblies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a punching bag assembly having a stiffness adjustment arrangement so as to fit different individuals with different training needs.

To achieve the above and other objects, the invention provides a punching bag assembly comprising a pedestal comprising a top connection member including a releasable first connecting portion; a punching bag comprising a connection element on a lower, central, inner portion, the connection element including a releasable second connecting portion; and a resilient assembly comprising an innermost inflatable enclosure, a reinforced fiber layer around the inflatable enclosure, first and second mounting members on top and bottom points of the inflatable enclosure, each of the first and second mounting members having a projecting fastening member to be releasably secured to either the first connecting portion or the second connecting portion, a leather layer around the reinforced fiber layer and both the first and second mounting members, and first and second caps each having a central through hole so that the fastening members are driven through the through holes to releasably secure to the first and second connecting portions respectively, wherein the inflatable enclosure has a breather hole extending through the reinforced fiber layer and the leather for the inlet and outlet of air so as to adjust stiffness of the resilient assembly.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a punching bag assembly according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the punching bag assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the resilient assembly of the punching bag assembly;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the resilient assembly of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a conventional punching bag assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, a punching bag assembly in accordance with the invention comprises the following components as discussed in detail below.

A stepped circular pedestal 20 comprises a short, cylindrical connection member 21 on a top center, the connection member 21 having a releasable connecting portion 211 adapted to be mounted thereon as detailed later.

A cylindrical punching bag 30 comprises a connection element 31 on a lower, central, inner portion, the connection element 31 having two opposite connecting portions 312 on an outer surface and a releasable connecting portion 311 adapted to be mounted thereon as detailed later.

An egg-shaped resilient assembly 10 comprises an innermost inflatable enclosure 11, a reinforced fiber layer 15 around the inflatable enclosure 11 for increasing structural strength of the inflatable enclosure 11 and shaping the inflatable enclosure 11 as a round ball, oval ball, cylinder, cone, or prism, upper and lower mounting members 12 on top and bottom points of the inflatable enclosure 11, each of the mounting members 12 having a projecting threaded shank 121, a leather layer 13 around the reinforced fiber layer 15 and both the mounting members 12 for increasing the stiffness of the resilient assembly 10 and fastening the mounting members 12, and upper and lower caps 14 each having a central through hole 141.

The inflatable enclosure 11 has a breather hole 112 extending through the reinforced fiber layer 15 and the leather layer 13 to the external for the inlet and outlet of air. The threaded shanks 121 are driven through the through holes 141 to threadedly secure to both the connecting portions 311, 211. Also, upper and lower portions of the leather layer 13 are fastened. Further, the upper and lower portions of the leather layer 13 are concealed by the caps 14 and this is aesthetic.

It is noted that the breather hole 112 projecting out of the inflatable enclosure 11 is formed in the manufacturing process. Also, the threaded shank 121 of the mounting member 12 is formed by injection molding.

The connection member 21 further comprises two opposite threaded holes 212 so that a set screw 213 on the connecting portion 211 can be driven into to releasably secure the connecting portion 211 (i.e., the resilient assembly 10) and the connection member 21 (i.e., the pedestal 20) together.

Likewise, the connecting portions 312 of the connection element 31 are threaded holes so that two set screws 313 on an upper connecting portion 311 can be driven into the connecting portions 312 to releasably secure the connecting portion 311 (i.e., the resilient assembly 10) and the connection element 31 (i.e., the punching bag 30) together.

By assembling as above, a person may inflate the inflatable enclosure 11 by forcing compressed air through the breather hole 112 or deflating same by escaping air to the atmosphere through the breather hole 112. Thus, stiffness of the resilient assembly 10 can be adjusted. It is envisaged that the more inflation of the inflatable enclosure 11 the more stiff of the resilient assembly 10 will be. In this regard, a person has to strike stronger in order to bend the resilient assembly 10. On the contrary, the more deflation of the inflatable enclosure lithe less stiff of the resilient assembly 10 will be. In this regard, a person can easily bend the resilient assembly 10 by a light strike. In brief, an individual can adjust stiffness of the inflatable enclosure 11 by taking in or letting out air prior to exercising in order to fit his or her training needs.

While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims. 

1. A punching bag assembly comprising: a pedestal comprising a top connection member including a releasable first connecting portion; a punching bag comprising a connection element on a lower, central, inner portion, the connection element including a releasable second connecting portion; and a resilient assembly comprising an innermost inflatable enclosure, a reinforced fiber layer around the inflatable enclosure, first and second mounting members on top and bottom points of the inflatable enclosure respectively, each of the first and second mounting members having a projecting fastening member to be releasably secured to either the first connecting portion or the second connecting portion, a leather layer around the reinforced fiber layer and both the first and second mounting members, a first cap having a central through hole, and a second cap having a central through hole so that fastening members are driven through the through holes to releasably secure to the first and second connecting portions respectively, wherein the inflatable enclosure has a breather hole extending through the reinforced fiber layer and the leather for the inlet and outlet of air so as to adjust stiffness of the resilient assembly.
 2. The punching bag assembly of claim 1, wherein the connection member further comprises two opposite first threaded holes, and the first connecting portion comprises two set screws adapted to drive into the first threaded holes to secure the first connecting portion to the connection member.
 3. The punching bag assembly of claim 1, wherein the connection element further comprises two opposite second threaded holes, and the second connecting portion comprises two set screws adapted to drive into the second threaded holes to secure the second connecting portion to the connection element.
 4. The punching bag assembly of claim 1, wherein the fastening members are threaded shanks adapted to drive through the through holes to releasably secure to the first and second connecting portions respectively,
 5. The punching bag assembly of claim 1, wherein the inflatable enclosure is shaped as a round ball, oval ball, cylinder, cone, or prism. 